Epidemiology of burn wound bacterial infections at a Meknes hospital, Morocco

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of burn wound infection in the ward of Burns and Plastic Surgery at Mohammed V Hospital, Meknes, Morocco, and to determine the pathogenic bacterial species responsible for this infection as well as the susceptibility of these isolates to various antibiotics. Over the 1-year study period, 126 patients were admitted. The main sources of burns were flames (52.38%) and hot water (28.57%); 71% had burns with 11% to 40% burn surface and 48.41% had burns between 11% and 20% total burn surface. The mean ± SD duration of hospitalization was 22.15 ± 13.84 days after injury. Eighty-six patients were found to have at least one positive culture requiring treatment and were thus included in this study. The predominant bacteria isolated were Staphylococcus aureus (33.85%), followed by Pseudomonas spp. (18.46%), Acinetobacter baumannii (15.38%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (13.85%), Escherichia coli (8.46%) and Proteus mirabilis (4.42%). Disc-diffusion susceptibility testing indicated a high prevalence of resistance to various antimicrobial agents. Among the Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacteriaceae strains isolated, 86.36% were methicillin resistant and 48.64% were extended-spectrum β-lactamase producers respectively.